Any tips for passing the Comptia Sec + exam? Been studying on and off for about a year.

Most of the test is memorization, definitions, and acronyms. Crypto is generally the hardest concept, so spend a little extra time to make sure you understand the algorithms and processes associated with it. The simulators are relatively new... You can go to the CompTIA website or google help for Sec+ simulations. http://www.professormesser.com is a great source for understanding concepts.

I would strongly recommend drilling the different types of encryption into your head so you can quickly recall the type (synchronous or asynchronous), number of bits, and common uses. Also know the common ports and their protocols (useful for all the CompTIA basic tests). At least for me those were the biggest hangups that I had. I also went into the test center and wrote down those pieces of information on the notes sheet as soon as I got there.

I just took and passed it this past August. Definitely take practice tests, and I got the CompTIA Security+ SY0-401 Exam Prep App and used it a ton. You definitely wanna cram for at least a week just to make sure you're prepared.